Mini PCs · Head to head

Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) vs Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)

Full Mini PCs comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Apple and Asus sites.
2026 verdict
Across the 2026 comparison, Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) earns the nod over Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB) on the strength of price, rating, and memory capacity.
Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)
Winner
Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)
$2299.00$2499.008% OFF
Buy on Amazon USA
It wins the broader comparison through price, rating, and memory capacity, while its broader overall balance helps confirm the result. Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB) is still relevant if you care most about storage capacity, but Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) is the stronger recommendation overall. For most setups, Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) is the smarter buy.
vs
News by email

Still comparing? Get what's new by email

New releases and the smart home news worth knowing, in your inbox.

Smart home news and new releases, straight to your inbox

New releases, comparisons and the smart home news worth knowing.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Please enter a valid email address.
Tick the box above to finish signing up.
We couldn't verify you're human. Please try again.
Too many attempts. Please try again in an hour.
Your subscription has been successful.
FeatureApple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)Winner
Price$2299.00$2780.99Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)
Rating5.03.9Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)
Memory Capacity36 GB32 GBApple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)
Storage Capacity512 GB1 TBAsus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)
CPU ModelM5 Max 18-coreIntel Core Ultra X7 358HDifferent strengths
Memory ConfigurationUnified MemorySoldered (non-upgradeable)Different strengths
Memory Speed460 GB/s9600 MT/sDifferent strengths
GPU Model32-core GPUIntel Arc B390 (12 Xe-cores)Different strengths
NPU Model16-core Neural EngineIntel NPU 5Different strengths

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) or Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)?

Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) has the stronger overall profile in this comparison, especially for price, rating, and memory capacity.

What is the biggest difference between Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) and Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)?

Price is one of the clearest differences: Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) lists $2299.00, while Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB) lists $2780.99.

Which one looks better on price?

Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) is listed at $2299.00, while Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB) is listed at $2780.99. Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) (better spec).

Who should buy Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB)?

Choose Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max 36GB + 512GB) if your priority is price and rating and that matters more than storage capacity.

Who should buy Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB)?

Choose Asus NUC 16 Pro (Ultra X7 32GB + 1TB) if your priority is storage capacity and that matters more than price.

Full comparison table

Compare all 105 Mini PCs side by side

You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Mini PCs in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.

  • 105 Mini PCs
  • 41 specs compared
  • 38 filters
Open the full comparison
More Mini PCs

Top Mini PCs to compare next

105 mini PCs from 7 brands compared: Geekom, Beelink, GMKtec, Asus and more. CPU, RAM, storage, ports, GPU and NPU specs, side by side.

All Mini PCs
Apple

More Apple products

A sharper look at other Apple products worth comparing.

Explore Apple
Asus

More Asus products

A sharper look at other Asus products worth comparing.

Explore Asus
Independent · Not sponsoredBrands never pay for placement or rankings. Affiliate commissions never influence our comparisons.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

© 2026 Smart Home Compared
Search